More cautious approaches when undertaking gender-transition to both surgery and hormone treatments are needed
A recent systematic review that included 879 articles has evaluated the impact of gender reassignment surgery on the development of urethral complications. Read more here [1].
Reassignment surgery long-term effect in addition to many others related to both surgery and hormone transition treatment
“After removing articles of no interest or articles in which the outcomes could not be deduced, 32 studies were examined for a total of 3463 patients screened. Female-to-male (FtM) surgery and male-to-female (MtF) surgery was discussed in 23 and 10 studies, respectively. […] Varying patterns of complications were observed in FtM and MtF surgeries, with increased complications in the former because of the larger size of the neourethra. Meatal stenosis is a particular concern in MtF surgery, with complication rates ranging from 4 to 40%, and usually require meatotomy for repair. Stricture and fistulization are frequently reported complications following FtM surgery. In studies reporting fistulae involving the urethra, 19-54% of fistulae resolved spontaneously without further surgical intervention. High rates of complications are reported in the current literature, which should be understood by patients and practitioners alike.”
These complications are in addition to many others related to both surgery and hormone transition treatment in the case of transgender interventions, as we have mentioned in previous articles (read HERE and HERE). Proper evaluation of these complications and side effects should foster more cautious approaches when undertaking gender-transition medical interventions.
[1] Nassiri, N., Maas, M., Basin, M. et al. Urethral complications after gender reassignment surgery: a systematic review. Int J Impot Res (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-0304-y
